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Sanity outside of legal definitions has been little explored by [[science]] and [[medicine]], as the concentration has been on illness. Dr. P.S. Graven suggested the term "un-sane" to describe a condition that is not exactly insane, but not quite sane either.

Sanity outside of legal definitions has been little explored by [[science]] and [[medicine]], as the concentration has been on illness. Dr. P.S. Graven suggested the term "un-sane" to describe a condition that is not exactly insane, but not quite sane either.

A theory of sanity was proposed by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Korzybski Alfred Korzybski] in his [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_semantics general semantics]. He believed that sanity was tied to the structural fit or lack of it between our reactions to the world and what is actually going on in the world. He expressed this notion in a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Map/territory_relation map-territory] [[analogy]]: "A map is not the territory it represents, but, if correct, it has a similar [[structure]] to the territory, which accounts for its usefulness." Given that [[science]] continually seeks to adjust its theories structurally to fit the [[facts]], i.e., adjusts its maps to fit the territory, and thus advances more rapidly than any other field, he believed that the key to understanding sanity would be found in the [[study]] of the [[methods]] of [[science]] (and the study of [[structure]] as revealed by science). The adoption of a scientific outlook and [[attitude]] of continual adjustment by the [[individual]] toward his or her [[assumption]]s was the way, so he claimed. In other [[words]], there were "factors of sanity to be found in the physico-mathematical methods of science."

A theory of sanity was proposed by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Korzybski Alfred Korzybski] in his [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_semantics general semantics]. He believed that sanity was tied to the structural fit or lack of it between our reactions to the world and what is actually going on in the world. He expressed this notion in a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Map/territory_relation map-territory] [[analogy]]: "A map is not the territory it represents, but, if correct, it has a similar [[structure]] to the territory, which accounts for its usefulness." Given that [[science]] continually seeks to adjust its theories structurally to fit the [[facts]], i.e., adjusts its maps to fit the territory, and thus advances more rapidly than any other field, he believed that the key to understanding sanity would be found in the [[study]] of the [[methods]] of [[science]] (and the study of [[structure]] as revealed by science). The adoption of a scientific outlook and [[attitude]] of continual adjustment by the [[individual]] toward his or her [[assumption]]s was the way, so he claimed. In other [[words]], there were "factors of sanity to be found in the physico-mathematical methods of science."

In his classic book, ''The Sane Society'', published in 1955, psychologist [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erich_Fromm Erich Fromm] proposed that, not just individuals, but entire societies "may be lacking in sanity". Fromm argued that one of the most deceptive features of social life involves consensual validation[1]:

In his classic book, ''The Sane Society'', published in 1955, psychologist [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erich_Fromm Erich Fromm] proposed that, not just individuals, but entire societies "may be lacking in sanity". Fromm argued that one of the most deceptive features of social life involves consensual validation[1]:

<blockquote>“It is [[naive]]ly assumed that the [[fact]] that the majority of people share certain [[ideas]] or [[feelings]] proves the validity of these ideas and feelings. Nothing is further from the [[truth]]... Just as there is a '[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folie_à_deux Folie à deux]' there is a 'folie à millions.' The fact that millions of people share the same vices does not make these vices [[virtue]]s, the fact that they share so many errors does not make the errors to be [[truth]]s, and the fact that millions of people share the same form of mental pathology does not make these people sane.[2]”</blockquote>

<blockquote>“It is [[naive]]ly assumed that the [[fact]] that the majority of people share certain [[ideas]] or [[feelings]] proves the validity of these ideas and feelings. Nothing is further from the [[truth]]... Just as there is a '[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folie_à_deux Folie à deux]' there is a 'folie à millions.' The fact that millions of people share the same vices does not make these vices [[virtue]]s, the fact that they share so many errors does not make the errors to be [[truth]]s, and the fact that millions of people share the same form of mental pathology does not make these people sane.[2]”</blockquote>

==Quote==

==Quote==

Of [[health]] and '''sanity''' man understands much, but of [[happiness]] he has truly realized very little. The highest happiness is indissolubly linked with [[spiritual]] [[progress]]. Spiritual [[growth]] yields lasting [[joy]], [[peace]] which passes all [[understanding]].[http://www.urantia.org/cgi-bin/webglimpse/mfs/usr/local/www/data/papers?link=http://mercy.urantia.org/papers/paper100.html&file=/usr/local/www/data/papers/paper100.html&line=83#mfs]

Of [[health]] and '''sanity''' man understands much, but of [[happiness]] he has truly realized very little. The highest happiness is indissolubly linked with [[spiritual]] [[progress]]. Spiritual [[growth]] yields lasting [[joy]], [[peace]] which passes all [[understanding]].[https://www.urantia.org/cgi-bin/webglimpse/mfs/usr/local/www/data/papers?link=https://mercy.urantia.org/papers/paper100.html&file=/usr/local/www/data/papers/paper100.html&line=83#mfs]

==References==

==References==